Royal College of Psychiatrists responds to new
NHS Information Centre statistics on the numbers of in-patients
detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and patients
subject to supervised community treatment

Dr Tony Zigmond, the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ lead on
mental health law, said:

"The RCPsych is extremely concerned about the large increase in
the number of patients being subject to compulsory mental health
treatment. This increase is the inevitable result of some of the
ill-advised changes made to the Mental Health Act – against the
advice of the RCPsych and other mental health organisations.

"The RCPsych will continue to work with service users, families,
other organisations and the Coalition government, to enhance public
mental health and ensure the provision of treatments that patients
both want and need. These, along with serious investment in mental
health research, are the only ways to improve the prevention and
treatment of mental health problems."

Note to editors:

The NHS Information Centre published a report on the numbers of people in England being made subject to restrictions under the Mental Health Act on 5 October 2010 http://www.ic.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/more-people-with-mental-health-problems-are-being-made-subject-to-compulsory-care-says-new-report